Special Pages

Monday, 4 May 2009

Exclusive! man battles Swine Flu

Information here & UK medical advice here. BBC overview here. We must remember other flu strains kill thousands every year. It’s also useful to remember a pandemic is so-called because of its potential spreadability, not necessarily its virulence. The answer on this occasion seems to be basic hygiene and common sense awareness. Panic is not helpful.

Newspaper reporting has not been glorious. Take this example, from Thursday’s Evening Standard:

A 22-year-old London man with swine flu was today “in a bad way” in hospital. The student, the first person in the capital diagnosed with the virus, had been on holiday with friends to Cancun in Mexico. Health chiefs said on Wednesday the man from Barnet, who has not been named, was only suffering “mild” flu-like symptoms.

But today his spokesman revealed the 22-year-old patient at the Royal Free hospital is now experiencing severe sickness and vomiting. Agent Max Clifford told the Evening Standard: “He’s in a bad way at the Royal Free and is suffering from awful sickness and vomiting. It’s not good news.”

So hang on. The hospital say he has mild flu-like symptoms, but his publicist says he’s in a bad way and suffering from awful sickness and vomiting. Whom do we believe, the hospital or the PR man? It seems that print media have been no more reliable as sources of information than others, to put it mildly. You have to ask, is there a place for publicists in public health? As people sign up to tell their stories, we can only imagine the full horror:

Day 109:30Sneezed10:00 Now feeling a bit snuffly. Should have shunned man wearing Sombrero on bus...10:30Wife sneezed.11:15 Wife now feeling a bit snuffly. Making cup of tea11:45Phoned NHS direct. They said I was probably OK, but if anxious I should consult a doctor. Explained that was what I was trying to do when I ruddy phoned them. Lady said she wasn’t actually a doctor but doing her best to handle inceased volume of calls. Reassured. Not.12:15 Wife realised we were out of Beecham’s Powders. Situation becoming Critical.12:30Wife popping out for Beecham's Powders13:15 snoozed off in front of telly with pint and bag of Pork Scratchings. Aw, what the hell... I might as well die happy.17:15 Feed a cold and starve a fever. No pie for tea! At least this thing isn't slowing the wife down... yet!19:152nd lot of Beecham's powders: began to feel better21:15Ovaltine and early night:22:30Rage against dying of the light. Will I ever see the dawn? (Max suggested this bit)

Day 206:15 Missed Dawn. Slept through. Probably for the best.10:30 Feeling a bit better but still slightly snuffly11:45 Feeling a lot better, actually. Last lot of Beecham’s powders.13:45Er...17:15 ...that’s it.18:45Cat sneezed. Does our contract with Max cover domestic animals? Could be critical if this thing mutates...

I see what you mean. Clear accurate public information is what we all need, on the back of swift accurate public health reporting. That, backed by everyone taking obvious hygienic precautions they should be taking anyway, will enable those who actually know what this thing is all about to apply their intelligence to finding the speediest solution. As it is flat earth news values, and chequebooks, conspire to spread confusion and alarm... and many of the daily papers seem to be leading the charge rather than providing the strength in depth background information that some are and all could.

As this outbreak comes into proportion, what matters is where this leaves us for next time, should something more serious, say one of the far Eastern bird flu strains, rear its ugly head. That's when a lot of crying wolf now could really curse us all...

Calm is needed but the authorities should be justifiably worried for two reasons. First even if this variety of flu is no more dangerous than the seasonal flu, because most people have no immunity more people will catch it than with seasonal flu. Second the possibility that this flu will mutate again and become more lethal (this apparently is what happened in 1918).

If nothing else this is a good check on our preparedness, how quickly can we gather the information on the spread and see the right people get it, how quickly can we develop, mass-produce, and distribute a vaccine against it, will the governments do the right thing (in 1918 some city governments in the US were holding big rallies for war bonds even though they knew they had an epidemic, the results were lethal for many), is the public health system prepared (enough masks, hand cleaners, anti-viral medicines, etc), will there be an international effort.

I've got swine flu - no, really. My six year old son is getting over it, mine started this morning, and I've just started taking Tamiflu. I feel pretty rough, kind of like I've got flu (!) - but it will pass! Paracetamol is helping keep my temperature down and make the muscle aches a bit easier. I've slept all day, am up for a couple of hours now. Thank God my husband has just been made redundant so he's at home to look after us, fetch prescriptions, Beecham's powders, etc... Seriously - it's a bit of a horrid virus, but doesn't seem to be as bad as 'regular' flu. Oink.

People with regular exposure to pigs are at increased risk of swine flu. More than 1100 people worldwide have died from swine flu since it emerged in Mexico and the US in April, according to the latest figures from the World.

Child of God by adoption and grace, husband of Lucy, father of five, jumped-up vicar (Area Bishop of Buckingham).
Born Edinburgh. Deacon 1979, Priest 1980, Bishop 2003. Cambridge MA, Oxford DPhil — ‘I am a doctor, but not the kind that helps people.’ I trained for ordained ministry at Wycliffe Hall. I have worked in various C of E contexts, urban and suburban, as well as in prison.